Bothell, WA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted plumbing code
- 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code
- Excluded part
- Chapter 1 of the UPC
- Permit authority
- Building official, § 20.02.095
- Maximum fine, Chapter 20.04
- $5,000, or 180 days in jail, or both
- Rough-in rule
- No primary utility connections until approved
- Emergency repairs
- Apply by next working business day
Summary
The City of Bothell, Washington adopts the 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code in Bothell Municipal Code § 20.04.120, excluding Chapter 1. Installing or replacing a plumbing system needs a permit from the building official under § 20.02.095, with a short list of repairs exempt.
The 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapters 51-56 and 51-57 WAC, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, excluding Chapter 1, is adopted.
Full Breakdown
Bothell Municipal Code § 20.04.120 adopts the 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapters 51-56 and 51-57 WAC and published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. Chapter 1 of the UPC is excluded, so the city's own administrative rules in Chapter 20.02 control permits and inspections. Section 20.02.070 says the UPC applies to the installation, alteration, repair and replacement of plumbing systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances connected to a water or sewage system, and to all aspects of a medical gas system.
The permit duty sits in § 20.02.095(A): anyone who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace a plumbing system regulated by the code must first apply to the building official in the City of Bothell. Subsection B(3) exempts three kinds of work. Stopping or repairing leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe is exempt, but replacing a defective concealed trap or pipe with new material counts as new work needing a permit and inspection. Clearing stoppages and repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, and removing and reinstalling water closets, are exempt when no valves, pipes or fixtures are replaced or rearranged. Reinstalling or replacing prefabricated fixtures is exempt when it requires no replacement or rearrangement of valves or pipes.
Plumbing fees are set in Table 20.02.155 C by reference to the fee schedule the city council adopts by resolution. Rough-in plumbing must be inspected when complete and, if required, under test, and no connections to primary utilities are allowed until it is approved (§ 20.02.160(D)(6)). Emergency replacements or repairs of building service equipment need a permit application by the next working business day (§ 20.02.100). The adopted codes are filed with the department of community development, building services division, and available for public examination (§ 20.04.145).
Violations & Fines
Under Bothell Municipal Code § 20.04.150, anyone violating a provision of Chapter 20.04 is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 180 days, or both. Every day or portion of a day during which a violation occurs or continues is a separate offense. Starting plumbing work without a permit also draws the special investigation fee under § 20.02.161.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which plumbing code does the City of Bothell use?
Do I need a permit to fix a leaking pipe in Bothell?
Can I replace a toilet without a permit?
What is the penalty for violating Bothell's adopted building codes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bothell
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